Don't you thing that polycarbonate (lexan) will last longer than plexiglass? I've heard that the regular clear plexiglass is getting some green either yellow color for the sun in a few years?
And how long it takes on a January sunny day to heat this camp to a comfortable temp?
I'm going to make one with cans and using thermo glass instead normal glass so it traps more heat in the box. Do you think that will work or will it get too hot and start worping things in the box
@latinonyc7 Yeah, it works. The concept is you have a dark colored material that can conduct heat encased in a clear enclosure, then make air blow through it. Basically this means using aluminum painted black. There is an infinite number of ways to do it. I have made a heater using aluminum cans, it works even better. There is also another more efficient design, however. I'm planning on making a huge solar heater for our house in time for next winter using the improved design, so stay tuned!
@jnrowell great , i just subscribe to your channel, y am working with solar panel energy and it works great, my next project will be the solar heater ....keep the great job !!!
cantecleer is correct with that the fan should be on the bottom pushing the cold air in, as hot air moves towards cold and it brings moisture with it, so the density of the air will increase automatically. For a panel as small as the one they have built, I would say the fan should move pretty slow to get best results. Otherwise increase the size of the panel, then increase the air flow.
2 observations. Insulate the back and sides of your collector to hold heat from escaping. Create more surface area for heat collection and transfer by putting in something like 90 degree bent angle iron or black painted cut in 1/2 soda cans spaced thru the box. a couple inches between rows...........
I don't know if it is true, but I've read other people say that a fan pushing cold air into the cold inlet is more effective than pulling it from the hot outlet. Something about the density of cold air being greater than the density of warm air. I wasn't sure what the commenter meant though. Perhaps you could try a test sometimem by swapping the fan's position and turning it around so it pushes air into the cold inlet. In any case, nice job and thanks for the upload! (^.^)
The system can be improved if you switch the air in a heat accumulator (stones, water bottles etc.).. This system seems very simple to build. I wonder if you get the same results you have with aluminum cans.
Ideally, you'd run an insulated "return" duct from floor level at the opposite end of the trailer back up to the lower "intake" hole in your solar collector.
I made a 3x4' one just like this and had a fan. When outside 32deg drawing outside air, the heat stopped pretty soon after it started. About a minute or two. I think the pop can heater may be better, I am going to experiment with a $25 4x8' version.
According to an old Mother Earth design you should close the loop with an intake tube to the floor of the trailer. That way the potential for an increasing rise in temperature in the trailer is continuous. There are enough cracks in houses and trailers for fresh air, the real problem is needing more BTU's in winter.
The other hole needs to be connected to the trailer or house you install this on because the air won't have a chance to be trapped inside the enclosure no greenhouse effect. Like when they tell you to not leave you dog in the the car without cracking the windows on a hot day because when you crack the windows there's no net heat build up. There should also be double layer of plexiglass and caulking around it.
Oops don't paint black reflective surfaces inside the box would work better. Black absorbs and spreads heat. Reflective surfaces turn the long light waves into short heat waves.
you have many cheap options for cooling. an underground radiator, misting,heat vents,.. . A creative mind is the best tool for DIY passive home heating/cooling . Only a little understanding of science is needed.
H2O solarheat- Two points of method: (1) Two waters, separated, zero pressure and house pressure, and (2) Use principle of heat-exchange to take heat from zero pressure to house pressure by running copper metal tubing with house pressure, inside the zero pressure water. The copper metal does a very good job of transferring the heat, and many times better than plastic or rubber. Mixing sand and water in the zero pressure water is probably better. Thin aluminum may contain the zero pressure water.
hi there, thanks for the video. I have a question. First off, what part of the US are you in (Im wanting to know what the climate is like). Also, is this heater sufficient for the winter too? Thanks Im very interested in this.
Great job ! I built a small,experimental, solar heater,works great,160 degrees in full sunshine. I'm thinking of some bigger projects and was wondering where you purchased the solar fan and what it cost you.Thanks.
Hey, this thing is great! I live in the freezing countryside of Atlantic Canada. After watching your vid I made something like what you've put together for the old guy there, eh. By the way that was nice of you. I made one for inside the house fitted to a South facing window for $1.50 out of black painted cardboard, duct tape, and a novelty fan (it had Sponge Bob on it!) from the dollar store. I turned it on. The dang thing heated the kitchen on a cold sunny Feb. day, -18C outside. Thanx eh!!!!!
use aluminum foil and line the inside of the box it will heat the air beter dont beleve me try it the suns light will bounce off and refelect back from the ghass.
i built one of these, only i used dual chambers hot on top cold on bottom, and its is 34" by 48" black part is painted with two coats of woodstove paint. it is mounted inside window, takes cold air from down low. at this moment it is 78.7 degrees faranheit in an unheated room of my house, and it is sunny and 30 degrees (-2 c) farenheit outside.
idk, because i used only scraps that i salvaged from around my job, plus a few bucks into caulk, and i got some high temp woodstove paint from biglots for like 1$
The comment is, yes. What happens when the sun is not shining is this solar heater will not produce much heat. But when the sun is shining, it will produce free and continuous heat. Ask yourself: what's better: no free heat at all, or some free heat, every sunny day, forever? Hmmm.
Ok, but there are far too many examples of designs that don't offer a viable soution. If the design creates a confortable interior temperature for an additional 20 days a year that would be interesting to knnow. It would also be of interest to know where the site is, and normal temperature ramges, plus to have temperature readings at the intake, and supply. Probably more than you want to do, but would be of interes.
How about connecting the heater intake to the trailer? That way instead of sucking in cold outside air, you'll suck in preheated internal air and set up a nice feedback loop that should be able to raise the maximum temperature inside the trailer.
I don't think your connection is going to hold. You should try using a similar piece to the one for connecting to the trailer. Also, you will need better insulation in order to get any use from this in truly cold temperatures.
^ The sunlight is captured and converted to heat by the black aluminum. So even if it's cold outside, as long as it's sunny it will put out heat. Same principle going on here as when a car with its windows up is left in the sun - on a cold sunny day it's nice and warm in that car :) Thanks everyone for your comments!
at first i thought this was a great idea but then i was thinking about the fact that an aluminum sheet painted black was used. Considering heat is captured produced by the sun and then blown into the home ... why would u need a heater if it was warm enough outside? Hopefully that wasn't a dumb question.
Don't you thing that polycarbonate (lexan) will last longer than plexiglass? I've heard that the regular clear plexiglass is getting some green either yellow color for the sun in a few years?
And how long it takes on a January sunny day to heat this camp to a comfortable temp?
googl4ee 1 month ago
Just a few ideas.
1. made the baffles out of aluminum and paint them black, this will increase the area heated by the sun.
2. Recycle air from the trailer rather than heating cold air from outside.
3. If you're going to pull air from outside then you should at least filter to keep bugs and general crap from being blown into the trailer.
4. The seal between the glass and the frame didn't look so great and the insulation of the unit looked weak.
Redshift21 3 months ago
I'm going to make one with cans and using thermo glass instead normal glass so it traps more heat in the box. Do you think that will work or will it get too hot and start worping things in the box
madjamfree 6 months ago
does it work ? please let me know so i can start with this project
thank you....great job !!
latinonyc7 6 months ago
@latinonyc7 Yeah, it works. The concept is you have a dark colored material that can conduct heat encased in a clear enclosure, then make air blow through it. Basically this means using aluminum painted black. There is an infinite number of ways to do it. I have made a heater using aluminum cans, it works even better. There is also another more efficient design, however. I'm planning on making a huge solar heater for our house in time for next winter using the improved design, so stay tuned!
jnrowell 6 months ago
@jnrowell great , i just subscribe to your channel, y am working with solar panel energy and it works great, my next project will be the solar heater ....keep the great job !!!
Blessings
zl
latinonyc7 6 months ago
@jnrowell what is the improved design? I'm looking into possibly building one myself but would like the most efficient solar heating system.
cutieme89 6 months ago
cantecleer is correct with that the fan should be on the bottom pushing the cold air in, as hot air moves towards cold and it brings moisture with it, so the density of the air will increase automatically. For a panel as small as the one they have built, I would say the fan should move pretty slow to get best results. Otherwise increase the size of the panel, then increase the air flow.
nordis2001 11 months ago
2 observations. Insulate the back and sides of your collector to hold heat from escaping. Create more surface area for heat collection and transfer by putting in something like 90 degree bent angle iron or black painted cut in 1/2 soda cans spaced thru the box. a couple inches between rows...........
bmecher 1 year ago
here is a good idea,lol, sry ,cant stop laughing at this....TAKE THE CAMPER OR SHELTER AWAY SO YOU CAN JUST GET DIRECT SUNLIGHT....LOL
myrook1 1 year ago 2
Should ahve recycled the air already in the trailer.
MirageScience 1 year ago
Seems to me that the white dividers should be painted black.... Otherwise great job, I'm going to be doing a very similar one soon!
niborznieh 1 year ago
The air should flow under the absorber plate. The absorber plate should be between the glass and the air flow.
Kdog54902 1 year ago
I don't know if it is true, but I've read other people say that a fan pushing cold air into the cold inlet is more effective than pulling it from the hot outlet. Something about the density of cold air being greater than the density of warm air. I wasn't sure what the commenter meant though. Perhaps you could try a test sometimem by swapping the fan's position and turning it around so it pushes air into the cold inlet. In any case, nice job and thanks for the upload! (^.^)
cantecleer 1 year ago
This is very cool, thanks.
dmca20031 1 year ago
The system can be improved if you switch the air in a heat accumulator (stones, water bottles etc.).. This system seems very simple to build. I wonder if you get the same results you have with aluminum cans.
carisio 1 year ago
Cool!
Ideally, you'd run an insulated "return" duct from floor level at the opposite end of the trailer back up to the lower "intake" hole in your solar collector.
csreeves 1 year ago
looked a little like my carpentry but it stilled worked. good job folks
Maccan 1 year ago
very simple which is key so anyone can do it...
MrEnergyCzar 1 year ago
why not just get a 10' piece of abs? and put some foil around the bottom to reflect the sun back to it?
juggernautxtr 2 years ago
im a chep bastard i use the new diet dr pepper cans they are already black
datzfast 2 years ago
Brilliant!
mypalrocco 2 years ago
Good work my friend greetings from Mexico City!.
Baraquiel62 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
You can build a solar water heater very inexpensively using the plans at:
ambigrid-review.blogspot(DOT)com
taraff1 2 years ago
I made a 3x4' one just like this and had a fan. When outside 32deg drawing outside air, the heat stopped pretty soon after it started. About a minute or two. I think the pop can heater may be better, I am going to experiment with a $25 4x8' version.
trade350 2 years ago
Boom mic please.
mastashaker916 2 years ago
Nice set up! 5 stars.
bjhorton2005 2 years ago
According to an old Mother Earth design you should close the loop with an intake tube to the floor of the trailer. That way the potential for an increasing rise in temperature in the trailer is continuous. There are enough cracks in houses and trailers for fresh air, the real problem is needing more BTU's in winter.
padkisson 2 years ago
Great idea; I live in Mexico and during the winter some rooms are pretty cold.
Basically your design looks practical, though the idea of adding hollow cans to increase the effeciency will be part of the design I I would go for.
Thank you for sharing "green" ideas.
321ozzy 3 years ago 2
at night don't it blow in cold air ?
how367 3 years ago 2
No, because the fan is solar powered too - so the fan only blows the air in when there is enough sunlight to generate heat.
jnrowell 3 years ago 5
The other hole needs to be connected to the trailer or house you install this on because the air won't have a chance to be trapped inside the enclosure no greenhouse effect. Like when they tell you to not leave you dog in the the car without cracking the windows on a hot day because when you crack the windows there's no net heat build up. There should also be double layer of plexiglass and caulking around it.
anewlow23 2 years ago
@anewlow23 you mean my dog will die if i dont put a hole in my solar heater?
stelerscyth 1 year ago
Oops don't paint black reflective surfaces inside the box would work better. Black absorbs and spreads heat. Reflective surfaces turn the long light waves into short heat waves.
shawnplr 3 years ago
If you put the fan on the intake side the air will heat faster (denser air conducts heat faster). Spray the white baffles and inner frame black.
shawnplr 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
in my trailor my sister keeps me warm and hard
dannycarl 3 years ago
haha lol
nuclearthreat545 3 years ago
lmao nice
colterczyruk 3 years ago
One would need to incorporate thermal mass and insulation. Mass will maintain heat longer and insulation will reduce heat losses.
NWforager 3 years ago 3
I will try test on my garage.ok Smile!
vikingwoman73 3 years ago
careful might set the house on fire
aquafishsoup 3 years ago
Cool :P but i need one that give cooling
i am In Aruba Caribean Sea :P add me
JustConquering 3 years ago
you have many cheap options for cooling. an underground radiator, misting,heat vents,.. . A creative mind is the best tool for DIY passive home heating/cooling . Only a little understanding of science is needed.
NWforager 3 years ago 2
H2O solarheat- Two points of method: (1) Two waters, separated, zero pressure and house pressure, and (2) Use principle of heat-exchange to take heat from zero pressure to house pressure by running copper metal tubing with house pressure, inside the zero pressure water. The copper metal does a very good job of transferring the heat, and many times better than plastic or rubber. Mixing sand and water in the zero pressure water is probably better. Thin aluminum may contain the zero pressure water.
trader0108 3 years ago
good science project for high schoolers automatic A for my son
bradshaweric 3 years ago
If you connect four zip ties together, they form a nice even square.
Lansky54 3 years ago
Fill that with hollowed out aluminum cans and you'll double your heat
homertalk 3 years ago
it adds surface area
jojo808 3 years ago
nice job! keep up the good work.
manit77 3 years ago
hi there, thanks for the video. I have a question. First off, what part of the US are you in (Im wanting to know what the climate is like). Also, is this heater sufficient for the winter too? Thanks Im very interested in this.
pbjones81 3 years ago
Nice!
moomar1 3 years ago
Very ingenious! That gets the gears in my mind working...thanks
pvampire 3 years ago 2
Great job ! I built a small,experimental, solar heater,works great,160 degrees in full sunshine. I'm thinking of some bigger projects and was wondering where you purchased the solar fan and what it cost you.Thanks.
muserwood 3 years ago
Hey, this thing is great! I live in the freezing countryside of Atlantic Canada. After watching your vid I made something like what you've put together for the old guy there, eh. By the way that was nice of you. I made one for inside the house fitted to a South facing window for $1.50 out of black painted cardboard, duct tape, and a novelty fan (it had Sponge Bob on it!) from the dollar store. I turned it on. The dang thing heated the kitchen on a cold sunny Feb. day, -18C outside. Thanx eh!!!!!
gnomietrout 4 years ago
wow sounds like a good idea hey. although here in feb it would be more like 38.c.
even now second month of autumn and it would be about 25 deg celc outside.
but it will be good to try in our winter not that far away. nights get cold now though.
steviebboy69 3 years ago
how much heat can it produce
Pyramidtank 4 years ago
Did your plexiglass degrade due to sunlight exposure?
cdltpx 4 years ago
Thanks for the video...
matrixm777 4 years ago
use aluminum foil and line the inside of the box it will heat the air beter dont beleve me try it the suns light will bounce off and refelect back from the ghass.
NaturalyUnatural 4 years ago
Good idea..
By the way,very good video..
halfmumi 4 years ago
Would it be better to also paint the other boards inside the box also black to absorb more heat rather than a white color?
Bigjohnnywad 4 years ago
i built one of these, only i used dual chambers hot on top cold on bottom, and its is 34" by 48" black part is painted with two coats of woodstove paint. it is mounted inside window, takes cold air from down low. at this moment it is 78.7 degrees faranheit in an unheated room of my house, and it is sunny and 30 degrees (-2 c) farenheit outside.
passtentz1 4 years ago
what would the estimated building costs for this device be (roughly)? My son and I are thinking about trying to build one as a father son project.
mrme51 4 years ago
idk, because i used only scraps that i salvaged from around my job, plus a few bucks into caulk, and i got some high temp woodstove paint from biglots for like 1$
passtentz1 4 years ago
What size do you think the box is that was built here on You Tube?
Bigjohnnywad 4 years ago
What type of fan did you use? Is it solar powered also? How has the heater been working out for you? You mount it on your roof or side of house?
Bigjohnnywad 4 years ago
100 percent passive. no fan. air circulates itself.
mounted inside house, taking up the window space completely on the inside.
passtentz1 4 years ago
How is that working out for you? What part of Michigan are you located in? I used to live near Flint/Davison.
Bigjohnnywad 4 years ago
im near grand rapids
passtentz1 4 years ago
A heater on a warm sunny day ? what happens in the middle of winter when the heater is needed and its a bit dull ? Is this a homer moment ?
leewink 4 years ago
The comment is, yes. What happens when the sun is not shining is this solar heater will not produce much heat. But when the sun is shining, it will produce free and continuous heat. Ask yourself: what's better: no free heat at all, or some free heat, every sunny day, forever? Hmmm.
badger500 4 years ago 10
Ok, but there are far too many examples of designs that don't offer a viable soution. If the design creates a confortable interior temperature for an additional 20 days a year that would be interesting to knnow. It would also be of interest to know where the site is, and normal temperature ramges, plus to have temperature readings at the intake, and supply. Probably more than you want to do, but would be of interes.
rick0289 4 years ago
Wy make the things easy if you can do it complicated...;-)
nahuelito2007 4 years ago
How about connecting the heater intake to the trailer? That way instead of sucking in cold outside air, you'll suck in preheated internal air and set up a nice feedback loop that should be able to raise the maximum temperature inside the trailer.
Krumtralla 4 years ago
I don't think your connection is going to hold. You should try using a similar piece to the one for connecting to the trailer. Also, you will need better insulation in order to get any use from this in truly cold temperatures.
tooomp 4 years ago
cool thing, thanx for posting from spain
danietu 4 years ago
sorry I watched it again and you actualy do say that it doessuck in air and blow it twoards the house my bad
Seanisthebest1 4 years ago
Does that fan suck in the warm air and blow it twoards the house because i know it is a stupid question but it would only make sence right?
Seanisthebest1 4 years ago
i want this 4 a science project for my son.......i am a below ave handy man and any help would work
baseballdad13 4 years ago
^ The sunlight is captured and converted to heat by the black aluminum. So even if it's cold outside, as long as it's sunny it will put out heat. Same principle going on here as when a car with its windows up is left in the sun - on a cold sunny day it's nice and warm in that car :) Thanks everyone for your comments!
jnrowell 4 years ago 2
at first i thought this was a great idea but then i was thinking about the fact that an aluminum sheet painted black was used. Considering heat is captured produced by the sun and then blown into the home ... why would u need a heater if it was warm enough outside? Hopefully that wasn't a dumb question.
nomisage 4 years ago
How many sq feet is that? and how many BTU's per day can you capture?
jimbo 4 years ago
That blower fan will heat up for nothing. Put it into an other end of that collector, so it will blow only cold air.
suharinos 4 years ago
cool! i wanna make one!
bobby32123 4 years ago
4 stars for the project. But 5 Stars for helping out an old timer.
gordoncam1 4 years ago
that cool great invention but will it still work with cload cover
theoneagain 5 years ago